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Exanthemous Viruses

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Exanthemous Viruses

An exanthem is a widespread rash and usually refers to those occurring in children. Historically, six "classical" infectious childhood exanthems have been recognized; numbers were coined around 1905, from First to Sixth Diseases. Four of these six classic exanthemous diseases are caused by viruses:

First Disease: measles virus (Rubeloa)

Third Disease: rubella virus (German measles)

Fifth Disease: parvovirus B19 (Erythema infectiosum)

Sixth Disease: Human Herpes Viruse 6 (roseola infantum)

The General Virology Laboratory (GVL) provides testing for these and other exanthemous viruses for diagnostic and surveillance purposes. Many are common childhood illnesses, as well as vaccine preventable diseases (VPD). The GVL is a CDC reference center for viral VPD testing. Please visit the viral Vaccine Preventable Diseases page for further details on available testing for measles, rubella, and varicella zoster virus. If smallpox virus infection is suspected, contact the Wadsworth Center Biodefense Laboratory. See the Wadsworth Center Viral Encephalitis Laboratory for coxsackievirus and HHV6 testing on CSF from patients with encephalitis.

Collection Guidance

Flocked swabs are preferred. Do NOT use cotton or calcium alginate-tipped or wooden shafted swabs

Volume: at least 1.0 mL; minimum volume: 0.35 mL

Stool and urine

Collect in a sterile container. Do NOT add viral transport media

Volume for urine: at least 1.0 mL; minimum volume: 0.35 mL;

Volume for stool: place up to 4 spoonfuls

Blood/Serum

Collect 7 to 10 ml of blood into a marble-topped tube or a plastic yellow-topped serum separator tube. Spin samples to separate serum. Dispense to a sterile, labeled tube for shipment at room temperature.